1. Immersion_MicroScribe-3D.zip Driver
2. InScribe.txt File Contents

InScribe.txt Driver File Contents (Immersion_MicroScribe-3D.zip)

      IMPORTANT!!!!     IMPORTANT!!!!     IMPORTANT!!!!     IMPORTANT!!!!

      IMPORTANT!!!!     IMPORTANT!!!!     IMPORTANT!!!!     IMPORTANT!!!!





          THERE   IS   NO   ONLINE   HELP   FOR

          THIS   RELEASE   (VERSION   2.1)   OF   INSCRIBE.

          THIS   "README"   FILE   IS   THE   "HELP"   FILE!!!

          PLEASE   THIS   FILE   BEFORE   CALLING   TECH   SUPPORT!

          YOUR   QUESTION   IS   PROBABLY   ANSWERED   BELOW.





      IMPORTANT!!!!     IMPORTANT!!!!     IMPORTANT!!!!     IMPORTANT!!!!

      IMPORTANT!!!!     IMPORTANT!!!!     IMPORTANT!!!!     IMPORTANT!!!!








InScribe OVERVIEW

Inscribe allows the MicroScribe to send precise 2D or 3D coordinate data to programs that do not provide native support for the MicroScribe.

InScribe is not a plug-in, nor a driver; it is a stand-alone utility that runs in the background, simulating user (keyboard) entry of 3D coordinates (X,Y,Z values).

Inscribe allows the MicroScribe to be integrated with virtually any Windows (3.1, 95 or NT) program which allows user (KEYBOARD) entry of 2D or 3D coordinate data.



***************************************************************************
PUT VERY SIMPLY, INSCRIBE "TYPES" XYZ VALUES INTO YOUR PROGRAM TO CREATE POINTS, LINES, SPLINES, ARCS, CIRCLES, ETC.  

IF YOU CURRENTLY USE A PROGRAM (CAD/CAM/3D MODELING, ETC.) THAT ALLOWS YOU TO MANUALLY SPECIFY (TYPE) VERTEX COORDINATE VALUES TO CREATE POINTS AND OBJECTS, INSCRIBE WILL ALLOW YOU TO USE THE MICROSCRIBE TO INPUT ACCURATE POINT DATA.
***************************************************************************




MICROSCRIBE TERMINOLOGY

Please take a moment to become familiar with the MicroScribe terminology as illustrated in the accompanying graphic "ANATOMY.GIF", as it will be used when referring to the MicroScribe throughout the remainder of this document.



CONNECTING THE MICROSCRIBE

The MicroScribe is essentially seen by the computer as a modem and communicates via a standard RS232C serial port.  

The MicroScribe should be connected to an available serial port.  It can not share an interrupt with a serial mouse, so if you have a serial mouse on COM1, you will need to connect the MicroScribe to either COM2 or COM4.   It can however share an interrupt with a modem, so if you have a modem on COM2, you should be able to use the MicroScribe on COM4.

Most of the problems experienced by MicroScribe users are related to serial communications and occur during the initial connection phase.  Please see the Troubleshooting section at the end of this document for general guidance with serial communications issues.  Contact Immersion tech support (408-467-1900) if you need further assistance. 



MICROSCRIBE STARTUP, DEFAULTS

IMPORTANT:  The MicroScribe MUST BE placed in the "Home" position prior to turning on its power; if it is powered up in a position other than the "Home" position, inaccurate and unpredictable data will result.  The "Home" position is shown in the graphic file ANATOMY.GIF but may be verbally described as follows-  

* counterweight must be pressed firmly up against the bottom of the stylus holder
* stylus tip must be completely and firmly seated in the inverse conical hole in the top of the stylus holder
* stylus should be exactly perpendicular to the desktop  

(NOTE: on 3DL and 3DLx models, it is possible to place the stylus in its holder with the wrist roll joint 180 degrees out of proper alignment- this will result in the stylus being at a slightly non-perpendicular angle relative to the desktop.  To correct this, remove the stylus from its holder, spin it 180 degrees and place it back in the stylus holder.)

Each time the MicroScribe is powered on, it self-establishes an origin as well as default X and Y axes (the Z axis is always UP relative to the base) based on known joint angles when the MicroScribe is in the "Home" position.  The origin (0,0,0 point) is set at the level of the bottom of the base plate (in other words, if the MicroScribe had no rubber feet, it would be at the level of the desktop) and directly below the center of the base pivot point (which also corresponds to the center of the threaded insert used for tripod-mounting the MicroScribe.)  The X axis runs parallel to the "tombstone", with positive X being in the direction in which the counterweight points (opposite the direction in which the "elbow" points.)  The Y axis runs perpendicular to the "tombstone", with positive Y extending straight out from the face (front) of the "tombstone".  In this way, positive/negative X and Y values may be quickly, easily, automatically set up by simply rotating the base joint before MicroScribe power-up. 


CONFIGURING InScribe

After executing InScribe, a window will appear asking for the (COM) port and baud rate.  If the correct parameters are selected and all hardware is properly configured (i.e. no serial conflicts) a small InScribe window should appear showing available format options.  If a format has multiple sub-options, an additional menu will be displayed.



DEFINING THE REFERENCE FRAME

This is essentially optional and in many cases can be skipped completely, as the origin and axes are set at MicroScribe power up.  If desired, this is used to set the X-Y plane (which automatically defines the Z plane) and the origin and direction of positive X/positive Y.  Note that the origin/positive X/positive Y points may be taken anywhere; they will be mapped to the reference plane which is defined in the first three steps.


CONFIGURATION NOTES

"Generic" Format
Use this in conjunction with one of the subtypes "Commas", "Tabs", "Returns" or "Spaces" for support in applications which are not specifically listed in the "Format" menu.  Most programs will expect to receive coordinates separated (delimited) by either commas, tabs, (carriage) returns ("Enter" key) or spaces.
Note that a carriage return is automatic after the "Z" value.

"Custom" Format- Use this for programs which allow manual entry of point coordinates, either by command line (typically using a comma-delimited format string) or by dialog window (which usually requires "tab" or "return" characters to navigate between fields/buttons).  Use the "Set Format" menu option to configure the way in which data is sent to the destination application.  Note that the "Custom" format can be more easily set by first selecting one of the non-custom formats, then selecting "Custom".  

Sample string formats:  
(Note that a carriage return is always sent at the end of any format string.)   

%.2f,%.2f,%.2f	
Enter X,Y and Z values using 2 decimal points of precision, separate values with commas

%.3f,%.3f,%.3f	
Enter X,Y and Z values using 3 decimal points of precision, separate values with commas

%.4f,%.4f,%.4f	
Enter X,Y and Z values using 4 decimal points of precision, separate values with commas
(Same as Generic-Commas, MasterCAM, Notepad, Word)

%.3f,%.3f	
Enter X and Y values (omit Z) using 3 decimal points of precision, separate values with commas

%.4f,%.4f,1.125
Enter X and Y values and a hard-coded value of "1.125" for Z using 4 decimal points of precision, separate values with commas.

%.4f\t%.4f\t%.4f
Enter X,Y and Z values using 4 decimal points of precision, separate values with tab characters
(Same as Generic-Tabs, CadKey, Excel Row Entry)

%.4f\t%.4f\t%.4f\t\n
Enter X,Y and Z values using 4 decimal points of precision, separate values with tab characters, and finish with a final tab and an EXTRA newline ("return") character (for a total of 2)

\t\t%.4f\t%.4f\t%.4f\t
Enter 2 "tab" characters followed by X,Y and Z values using 4 decimal points of precision, separate values with tab characters, and finish with a final tab  
(In this example, it should be assumed that the program, after accepting the point data, leaves the focus in a field other than the "X" field, requiring 2 "tabs" to get back to the "X" field.  The final "tab" would be required to take the focus from the "Z" field to an "OK" or "Take Point" button.)

%.4f\n%.4f\n%.4f\n
Show 4 decimal points of precision, separate values with newline characters ("returns"- each coordinate value on a separate line) and finish with an EXTRA "return" character (for a total of 2) to insert a blank line in between samples.



CONSTRAINING ONE AXIS

The "Z" axis may be easily constrained by replacing the third variable (%.4f) in the format string with a hard-coded value.

This release of InScribe has no literal, straightforward way to constrain the X or Y axis.  However, there is a way to "trick" InScribe into doing this.  Omit the Z value or specify your own value.  Then using "Define Ref. Frame", set the X-Y plane such that the Z plane is effectively set to the axis you want to constrain. 

Example:  To constrain the X axis, set the X-Y plane as a Y-Z plane.  This sets the Z axis to what would normally be the X axis.  With the custom format string set to ignore (omit) the Z value, variations along (what is in reality the) X axis will be disregarded.  To digitize another cross-section incrementally to the right (an inch for example), simply redefine a new X-Y plane, with the same orientation, but an inch to the right.

********************************************************************************
IMPORTANT:  You can ONLY constrain the Z axis!  The first value reported will ALWAYS be "X".  The second will ALWAYS be "Y".  So the custom format string "%.4f,5.25,%.4f" does NOT yield  (X),5.25,(Z).  
Instead, it will yield (X),5.25,(Y).
********************************************************************************



TROUBLESHOOTING

TIP:  Try using a Notepad window as an excellent way to see if the MicroScribe and the computer are communicating.  

PROBLEM: "Unable to find HCI"
This means that there is a serial communications error.  See the "serial communications error" topic below.

PROBLEM: "Found HCI but can't begin session"
This USUSALLY means that a modem was found on the specified COM port.  Otherwise, it denotes a serial communications error.  See the "serial communications error" topic below.

PROBLEM: serial communications error.  (This is the most common problem.)
These are typically the result of a system resource conflict (more than one serial device assigned to the same IRQ or Address).  This can also be caused by a  misconfigured or defective (hardware) serial port or by incorrect port settings in Windows.
THINGS TO TRY:
1) Cycle the power on the MicroScribe  (Power down, wait a moment, power back up)  This will often refresh the link between the MicroScribe and the computer.
2) Restart InScribe  (Always do this after cycling the power on the MicroScribe)
3) Check port settings in BIOS, Control Panel, etc.
4) Check for conflicts with other serial devices (or their drivers).  (Use Device Manager in Windows 95/98 or "WINMSD.EXE" in NT)
5) Restart the computer (then cycle the power on the MicroScribe)
6) Use another serial device to verify that the port is working properly
7) Try a different port
8) Try a different computer

PROBLEM: Inaccurate data from the MicroScribe
This is most often caused by powering up the MicroScribe in a position other than the "Home" position.  Note that this can also occur if the MicroScribe's stylus tip is not fully screwed in to the stylus body.
SOLUTION: Place the MicroScribe in the "Home" position (see ANATOMY.GIF) and cycle the MicroScribe's power.
NOTE: on 3DL and 3DLx models, it is possible to place the stylus in its holder with the wrist roll joint 180 degrees out of proper alignment- see the accompanying graphic "DL-HOME.GIF" for further clarification.